Tag: Charity

Ok, so this new ad for SickKids is full on. But it’s also a nice break of convention. Heart-breaking stories, photos of people suffering, stats about all the injustices in this world – whilst are very important to share – end up getting lost in a sea of other really great, worthy causes because people are fatigued by the same types of stories.

Greatest Good is really lovely example of 21st century giving. The web platform offers anyone expert advice from inspiring, smart people in exchange for donations to charities of their choosing. Set up by a group of friends who work in tech, media and marketing, the platform offers access to a huge range of advisors spanning loads of different industries.

The holiday season has become saturated with stuff. Shiny, new, novel stuff. Increasingly so, the spirit of giving gets lost in a consumption–driven, sale seeking madness, fuelled by cheap chocolate and festive flavoured hot drinks. We forget that a huge part of Christmas is generosity.

In my limited six year existence working in the charity sector, I can relate to and agree with the vast majority of points covered in this TED talk.

Very often when I would tell people I worked for a charity they’d asked me if I worked as a volunteer. When I would reply by saying that I was actually employed by the charity, then a debate would start where I would told I should work for free because it’s for a cause and peoples’ donations shouldn’t go to a salary or overhead costs, and if I cared enough the money wouldn’t be important, and blah blah blah. This conversation happened again and again, almost like clockwork. So I copped out and started telling people I was a football coach. It saved me the speech.

As certain teammates of footballer Gary Neville make headlines for their off the pitch activities, not limited to failed super injunctions and hookups with prostitutes, Neville is currently in the spotlight (and worthy of it) for some of the good he’s done and for his imminent retirement from professional football.

Neville, who has the most caps for a right back for the England squad, and who was captain of Manchester United’s captain for five years, played his last match tonight at Old Trafford. His testimonial match versus Juventus saw the reunion of other footballing legends, like David Beckham and Peter Schmeichel, to play alongside Neville in his final game.

Apart from his football skills and sport legacy, Neville deserves kudos for his green credentials. Yes, he’s quite environmentally sound. Not so long ago he was granted planning permission for building an eco-bunker. And for his testimonial match tonight, he insisted that the entire match – from the floodlights to the energy used for boiling water for tea – come from wind energy. It was one of the first ever football matches powered by wind energy. Also, something that deserves a mention is the fact that some of the £2 million raised tonight will be donated to charity. Good stuff Gary, way to be an actual role model.